Pullman camper truck attachment



March 21, 1961 v. M. MAIDL 2,976,078

PULLMAN CAMPER TRUCK ATTACHMENT Filed June 15, 1959 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 AINVENTOR. V/HG/L M M/Dl.

March 21, 1961 I v. M. MAIDL PULLMAN CAMPER TRUCK ATTACHMENT 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1959 I MM Q .V/RGIL M M/DL Z INVENTZ BArrow/5y March 21, 1961 v. M. MAIDL 2,976,078

PULL-MAN CAMPER TRUCK ATTACHMENT Filed June 15, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR. l ma/L M IVA/01.

Arr'aR/vEy EP Ve a United States Patent PULLMAN CAMPER TRUCK ATTACHMENTVirgil M. Maidl, 8211 Phlox St., Downey, Calif.

Filed June 15, 1952, Ser. No. 820,379

12 Claims. (Cl. 296*2'6) This invention relates to motor vehicle bodiesand in particular to a sleeper body having a retractable canopy adapted,when in an extended position to provide shelter behind the rear end ofthe body.

An object is to provide a sleeper attachment for a conventional truckbody, adapted to be superimposed upon the side members of the truck bodyto provide therewith a completely enclosable sleeper.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a sleeper body havinga retractable canopy which, in its retracted position constitutes acover over the top of the body and which, in an extended position,constitutes a rearward extension of the body top.

A further object is to provide a body and canopy arrangement wherein thecanopy is normally positioned immediately above the body, constituting,in appearance and effect, the top thereof, and wherein movement to anextended position is accomplished very simply by sliding the canopylongitudinally rearwardly,

A further object is to provide in such a sleeper body, an improved meansfor extensibly attaching a canopy to the body for easy operation with aminimum of offort, between retracted and extended positions.

A further object is to provide, in a campers vehicle, a food-servingcabinet embodied in the door of the vehicle body and disposed at oneside of the space covered by the aforesaid canopy When the door is openand the canopy is extended, said food serving cabinet further embodyinga foldable serving table which is normally folded unwardly into theplane of the door, permitting the door to be closed, but which, when thedoor is opened, can be folded downwardly to a food serving position.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the ensuingspecification and appended drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a motor truck with the sleeper body of myinvention attached thereto, the canopy being shown in the extendedposition, and the rear door, embodying the food serving cabinet, beingshown in a partially open position in full lines;

Fig. 2 is a rear end view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the inward side of the combined reardoor and food serving unit;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view, full scale, of the canopy supportingslide mechanism, parts being broken away and shown in section toillustrate the construction;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail side view, in two sections, of thetelescoping brace for supporting the canopy in its extended position,parts being broken away and shown in section to better illustrate theconstruction; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of the r 2,976,078Patented Mar. 21,1961

canopy support and the rear end of the canopy, shown in fully retractedposition.

General description of apparatus Referring now to the drawings indetail, I have shown therein, as an example of one form in which theinvention may be embodied, a campers sleeper body attachment for aconventional automobile truck of the type commonly referred to as apick-up truck, wherein an open top body, relatively shallow, is definedbetween spaced side members 15, and has a rear opening which is normallyclosed by a removable end gate. The wheels of the vehicle are indicatedat 16, the conventional drivers cab at 17, and a conventional rearbumper, at 18.

The present invention provides an attachment apparatus which includes,in general, a cover unit A for attachment to the truck body andcooperable therewith to provide an enclosed sleeper body; a slidablecanopy B normally registering with and fitted over the top of the coverunit A but extensible rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 whereinit shelters the space behind the vehicle; a combined rear door and foodserving unit C; and a pair of collapsible telescoping braces D forsupporting the slidable canopy B in its extended position.

The cover unit A comprises a pair of side members 19 the lower marginsof which rest upon the upper margins of the truck body sides 15 when theapparatus is installed; a top 20 of transversely arched cross section,bridging between the upper margins of side members 19; a forwardbulkhead 21 closing the forward end of the sleeper space defined betweenthe truck body and the cover unit A; and a rear door arch 22 having adoorway 23 which is normally closed by the rear door and serving unit C.The doorframe 22 has a lower portion 27 of reduced width, such as to'fit snugly between the vertical inner margins of the rear end posts 28of the truck body. Side members 19 are provided with windows 29.Bulkhead 21 likewise has a window 30 in clude frame bars of squaretubing of the type shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Such frame structure mayinclude vertical,

and horizontal members defining the rear door opening '23, verticalcorner posts defining the respective vertical corners of the body unitA, top cross bows defining the arched cross section of top member 20,and ap-.

propriate members outlining the openings for windows 29. Appropriatelyshaped sheets of metal are attached to such frame structure, as byriveting or welding, to

provide the complete cover unit A. As suggestive of such.

composite frame and skin structure, Fig. 2 illustrates portions of thedoor frame members at 32, a vertical corner post at 33, and a top bow at34, the sheet metal covering skin being indicated at 35. A forwardvertical corner post is indicated at '33 in Fig. 1. However, since theknowledge and techniques of fabricating aircraft fuselages, motorvehicle trailer bodies and other enclosures and housing structures usingframe structures of the desired shape and sheet metal skins attachedthereto, are well known in these related arts, no detailed disclosure ofthe complete frame structure and skin members of the cover unit A isgiven herein, it'being within the province of any mechanic skilled inthe art, to apply such techniques and knowledge to the fabrication ofthe above described cover unit.

Appropriate fasteners (not shown) are utilized for attaching the coverunit A to the truck body along the upper margins of truck side members15 and rear end posts 28.

The slidable canopy B is of composite frame and skin structure similarto that of the cover unit A, including longitudinal side members 36along its lower margins, cross bows 37, and a covering skin of sheetmetal 38 (Fig. 1).

Slide mounting of canopy B Reference is made now to Figs. 4, and 6,wherein a longitudinal frame bar 36 and the skin 38 of the slidablecanopy B, together with the skin 35 of cover unit A, are shown in fullscale cross sectional detail. The slidable canopy B is slidablysupported upon roller slide mechanism including a pair of roller units40 attached to the respective sides of the canopy at the forward endthereof and a pair of roller units 41 attached to respective sides ofthe cover unit A at the rear end thereof. In Fig. 4, most of the canopyskin 38 is broken away to show the roller units in side elevation inthis relationship. The roller units 4% transfer the lifting thrust ofthe forward end of the canopy to tracks 42 which are attached torespective sides of the cover unit A; whereas the roller units 41 takethe downward load of the rear end of the canopy B as applied by tracks43 attached to the respective sides of the canopy, and transfer thisload to the sides of the cover unit A at the rear end thereof. In thefully extended position of the canopy, the respective roller units 40and 41 are fairly close together as indicated in Fig. 4, the pair ofroller units 40 having moved rearwardly with the canopy from normalpositions close to the forward end of the cover unit A which they occupyin the fully retracted position of the canopy indicated by the brokenline B in Fig. 1.

Track 42 is an integral part of a channel member (Fig. 5) including avertical web 44 which is attached, as by means of rivets 45, to thecover skin 35 of cover unit A, This channel member further includes ahorizontal bottom reinforcing flange 46, the track 42 in the form of anupper horizontal flange, and a retainer lip 47 extending downwardly fromthe outer margin of this upper horizontal flange, and which forms a partof the track 42. The track 42, with its retainer lip 47, terminatesforwardly of the rear end of the channel member, at a point justrearwardly of the rearmost position of roller 40 as seen in Fig. 4, theremainder of the channel member being of angle section, indicated at 48and extending rearwardly sufficiently to provide a support for theroller unit 41.

Roller unit 40 comprises a pair of rollers 49 and a bracket 50 having afoot portion 51 secured, as by rivets to the underside of a respectivelongitudinal frame bar 36 of canopy B as shown in Fig. 5. Roller unit 41comprises a pair of rollers 53 mounted upon a bracket 54 having a footportion 55 secured as by means of rivets to the upper side of the lowerhorizontal flange 46 of the channel member 45.

Track 43 is of the same angle section as track 42, but in invertedrelation thereto as will be seen by comparing Figs. 4 and 5, the track43 including a vertical web 44, an upper horizontal flange 46' which issecured, as by means of rivets, to the underside of a respectivelongitudinal frame rail 36 of canopy B, and further including a lowerhorizontal flange 42' and a retainer lip 47' extending upwardly from theouter margin thereof and retaining the rollers 53 laterally, the rollers53 being spaced from their brackets 54 by spacer washers 52'. Rollers 53bear upwardly against flange 46 of track 43.

Suitable spacer collars 52 (and 52') are interposed between the rollers49 and the bracket 50 (and between rollers 53 and bracket 54) to providespaces to receive the retainer lip 47 of the track 42 (and the lip 47 ofthe track 42') the rollers 49 extending upwardly into and bearingupwardly against the track 42 as indicated (and the rollers 53 extendingdownwardly into the channel portion of track 43).

Rearward extension of the canopy B is limited by engagement of rollerunits 40 against respective stop screws 57 which are threaded upwardlythrough the lower flanges 46 of the respective channel members 44. Byremoving the two stop screws 57, it becomes possible to slide the canopyrearwardly to the point where roller units 51 will clear the rear endsof their respective tracks 42, whereupon the rear end of the canopy canbe tilted downwardly, elevating the roller units 40 to a heightsufiicient to clear the roller units 41, and the canopy can then bemoved rearwardly until it is completely removed from the cover unit A.

The roller units 40 and 41 are normally concealed behind skirts 59 whichare constituted by the lower marginal portions of canopy skin 38projecting below the horizontal side frame rails 36 thereof. Skirts 59are formed with reinforcing flanges 60 turned inwardly from their lowermargins.

It will now be apparent that the canopy can be freely moved with arolling action between its fully retracted position B and its fullyextended position shown in full lines in the drawing. In the extendedposition, since most of the length of the canopy will be cantileveredrearwardly beyond the supporting units 41, the weight of the projectingportion of the canopy will be further supported by the telescopic bracesD. Each of the braces D comprises a scabbard having an open lower endreceiving a stud 66 which is anchored to bumper unit 18 and projectsdiagonally upwardly and rearwardly therefrom; a clamp screw 67 threadedradially through an integral boss 68 on the upper end of the scabbard65; and an extension rod 69 telescoping within the scabbard 65, normallyretracted therein, and adapted to be extended to the position shown inFig. 1 where it is connected to a respective side of the canopy B bymeans of a reduced tip 70 engaged in an aperture 71 in the lower wall ofa respective side frame bar 36 of the canopy. It will be held in thatposition by tightening clamp screw 67.

Rear door and food serving unit C Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, thedoor unit C comprises a body panel 70 the upper area of which may beprovided with windows 71 and the lower area of which carries the utensilcabinet indicated generally at 72. The cabinet 72 is attached to theinner face of door panel 70 and is relatively shallow horizontally so asto utilize only a minimum horizontal depth of space in the rear end ofthe sleeper body enclosure when the door unit C is closed. The cabinet72 may have any selected arrangement of utensil holding means which,merely by way of example, are shown as including hooks 73 for teacups ormugs, a shelf 74 for supporting other small utensils, a bottom pocket 75for plates, saucers, etc. and a space 76 for a cooking utensil such as afry pan as indicated.

A table panel 77 is hinged at 78 to the lower member of cabinet 72, formovement between the raised position shown in Fig. 1 wherein it closesthe open front of the cabinet 72, to a horizontally projecting loweredposition in Figs. 2 and 3, wherein it may be used as a servingtable. Itwill be understood that the table panel 77 can be lowered when the doorunit C is extending rearwardly in its fully open position as shown inFig. 2. In this lowered position, it is supported by suspending chains79 anchored at their respective ends to the table panel 77 and to thecabinet 72 as indicated.

In its raised position, table panel 77 functions as a closure for thefront of cabinet 72, and because of the relatively shallow depth of thecabinet 72 horizontally, the closedcabinet will retain the utensils inplace in the asvaora cabinet, protecting them against breakage under thejoggling action of vehicle movement.

Use of the apparatus The canopy unit B and door unit C cooperate withone another in that the canopy unit, when extended, shelters arectangular space behind the vehicle within which space the table panel77 can be lowered to serving position and the cabinet 72 and table unitwill be sheltered from the suns rays or from rain depending upon thecondition of the weather. It will be noted, by reference to Fig. 2, thatthe door-serving unit C, when fully opened, will be disposed on one sideof the sheltered space, that the table panel 77 will projectapproximately to the center of the sheltered space, and that suflicientarea for the preparation and eating of meals will be afforded in theother half of the sheltered space.

The area enclosed by the truck body and the cover unit A will providespace for one or more sleeper cots, one of which, indicated at 80 inFig. 2, can be arranged longitudinally along one side of the sleeperenclosure. The cot 80 may rest upon a peripherally extending enclosureframe 81 providing a storage chamber for clothes, bedding andmiscellaneous articles, which storage space may be madeaccessible byhinging the cot 80 to the frame as at 82 so that the cot may be liftedto uncover the storage space.

It is possible to provide in the sleeper space made available within thebed area of a pickup truck, room for two cots of single occupancy width,extending parallel to one another along respective sides of theenclosure; or a single bed of sufiicient width to accommodate twopersons, arranged along one side of the sleeper space with sufiicientfloor space along the other side to provide the function of a dressingroom. In either event, by utilizing a cot 80 of only medium length (e.g.approximately 66 inches) it is possible to accommodate a smaller cot,providing sufficient sleeping area for a child, disposed between theforward end of the longitudinal cot 80 and the bulkhead 21 and extendingtransversely the full width of the sleeper space at its forward end.

Curtains (not shown) may be detachably suspended from the respectivesides of canopy B and from its rear end so as to complete the enclosureof the sheltered space beneath the extended canopy for providing adressing room space.

To make ready for transportation of the vehicle, the canopy brace unitsD are collapsed (by loosening clamp screws 67 and sliding the extensionrod 69 downwardly into scabbards 65) and are removed from their bracingpositions by slipping the lower ends of scabbards 65 olf the anchorstuds 66; and are then stored within the sleeper enclosure. The canopy Bis then slid forwardly to its normal position B and is locked in thatposition by latching devices one of which is shown at 83 in Fig. 2. Thelatch 83 is preferably of a type (e.g. a trunk hasp) embodying a logunit 84 attached to the rear end of the canopy B in a rearwardlyprojecting position, the main unit of the hasp, including a movable yokefor engagement with the lug unit 84, being attached to the top of therear door arch member 22. A pair of such hasps, spaced equally onopposite sides of center, will elfec- .tively secure the canopy Bagainst sliding rearwardly when the vehicle is traveling.

As shown in Fig. 8, the forward movement of canopy B is limited at theretracted position of the canopy, by engagement of the rear-end framebow 37 of the canopy against the rear roller 53 of roller unit 41. Whenlatched, the canopy is thus securely held against any longitudinalshifting, either forwardly or rearwardly.

I claim:

1. A sleeper attachment body for a vehicle having an open-top box typebody with open rear end, defined by vertical side member, comprising: acover unit having sides for attachment to said vehicle body in adjoiningrelation to the upper margins of said side membershaw ing a top bridgingbetween the upper extremities of said sides and covering the area withinsaid body, and having a rear end doorway; a canopy disposed above saidtop and substantially co-extensive therewith in area; and anti-frictionslide means connecting the respective sides of said canopy to therespective sides of said top and supporting the canopy for easy slidingmovement between a retracted position covering said top and an extendedposition sheltering a space behind the vehicle substantially equal tothe area within said body, while said top continues to shelter said areawithin the vehicle body.

2. A sleeper apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including latchmeans for attaching the rear end of said canopy to said doorway to holdthe canopy against rearward shifting.

3. A sleeper attachment body for a vehicle having an open top box typebody with open rear end, defined by vertical side members, comprising: acover unit having sides for attachment to said body in adjoiningrelation to the upper margins of said side members, having atransversely arched top bridging between said sides, and having a rearend doorway; a canopy of transversely arched contour fitted to said topin covering and embracing relation thereto, said canopy embodying aframe comprising transversely arched bows and longitudinal side barsbridged by said bows, and a skin sheet covering and attached to saidframe externally thereof; and slide means connecting the respectivesides of said canopy to the respective sides of said top and supportingthe canopy for easy sliding movement between a retracted positioncovering said top and a position extended over a space behind thevehicle, in which position said canopy and said top have overlappingadjacent ends and cooperatively shelter, without a break, the areawithin said vehicle body and said space behind the vehicle, said slidemeans including antifriction roller devices disposed between said canopyskin sheet and the outer surface of said cover unit and transferringsupport between the latter and said longitudinal side bars of the canopyframe.

4. A sleeper attachment body for a motor vehicle, comprising: a coverunit having sides for attachment to the vehicle, having a transverselyarched top bridging between said sides, and having a rear end doorway; acanopy of transversely arched contour fitted to said top in covering andembracing relation thereto, said canopy embodying a frame comprisingtransversely arched bows and longitudinal side barsbridged by said bows,and a skin sheet covering and attached to said frame externally thereof;and slide means connecting the respective sides of said canopy to therespective sides of said top and supporting the canopy for easy slidingmovement between a retracted position covering said top and a positionextended behind the vehicle, with the forward end of said canopyoverlapping the rear end of said top and said top and canopy providingcontinuous unbroken shelterover the area within said body and asubstantially equal ground area extending rearwardly from the rear endof said body, said slide means including antifriction roller devicesdisposed between said canopy skin sheet and the outer surface of saidcover unit and transferring support between the latter and saidlongitudinal side bars of the canopy frame.

5. A sleeper attachment body as defined in claim 4, wherein said slidemeans further includes stationary longitudinal tracks attached to therespective sides of said cover 'unit and canopy tracks each attachedinternally to a respective side of said canopy; and whereinv saidantifriction roller units include, at each side of the sleeper body, aforward roller unit attached to a respective longitudinal frame bar ofthe canopy and in rolling engagement with a downwardly facing bearingsurface of a respective stationary track; and a rear roller unitattached to a respective side of said cover unit and in rollingengagement with an under bearing surface of a respective canopy track.

6. An attachment bodyas defined in claim 5, wherein said rear rollerunits are attached to the undersides of the respective side frame barsof the canopy and wherein said canopy skin sheet includes respectiveside marginal portions projecting downwardly below said side frame barsand constituting aprons covering said roller units.

7. An attachment body as defined in claim 6, including support armswhich are integral rearward extensions of said stationary tracks, saidsupport arms being of L-section including outwardly projecting bottomflanges upon which said rearward roller units are mounted.

8. An attachment body as defined in claim 7, wherein said stationarytracks are of C-section each including a vertical web and a bottomhorizontal flange of which the respective support arm constitutes anintegral extension, and further including an outwardly projecting topflange providing said downwardly facing bearing surface of therespective stationary track and a downwardly projecting roller retainerlip on the outer margin of said top flange, each forward roller unitincluding a pair of rollers extending upwardly into a channel spacecooperatively defined by said vertical web, said top flange and saidretainer lip.

9. An attachment body as defined in claim 8, wherein each forward rollerunit includes a bracket to which its respective rollers are mounted, aspacer interposed between said bracket and the respective rollers toprovide spaces to receive said retainer flange, and an integral foot atthe upper end of the bracket, which foot is secured to the underside ofa respective side frame bar of the canopy, with the bracket in dependingrelation to the said side frame bar.

10. An attachment body as defined in claim 9, including a stop memberremovably mounted in the said bottom flange of the respective stationarytrack and adapted to be engaged by a respective forward roller unit tolimit the rearward extension of the canopy, the rem-oval of said stopunit permitting the canopy to be further shifted rearwardly suflicientlyto release the forward roller units from their respective stationarytracks, so as to permit the removal of the canopy from said cover unit.

11. A sleeper attachment body as defined in claim 4, wherein said slidemeans further includes stationary longitudinal tracks attached to therespective sides of said cover unit and canopy tracks each attachedinternally to a respective side of said canopy; and wherein saidantifriction roller units include, at each side of the sleeper body, aforward roller unit attached to a respective longitudinal frame bar ofthe canopy and in rolling ongagement with a downwardly facing bearingsurface of a respective stationary track; and a rear roller unitattached to a respective side of said cover unit and in rollingengagement with an under bearing surface of a respective canopy track;and wherein said stationary tracks and said canopy tracks are both ofidentical C-form cross section, each including a vertical back web, aplain horizontal flange projecting from one margin of said web and asecond horizontal flange projecting from the other margin thereof, saidsecond marginal flange terminating in a marginal retainer lip extendingvertically from its outer margin, and defining with said secondhorizontal flange and said back web a roller receiving channel section,said stationary track being arranged with said plain horizontal flangeat the bottom and said channel section at the top thereof with said backweb secured to an external side surface of said cover unit and saidsecond horizontal flange providing said downwardly facing bearingsurface engaged by the rollers of said forward roller unit extendingupwardly into said channel section of the respective stationary track;and each of said canopy tracks being, arranged with its said plainhorizontal flange at the top and secured to the underside of arespective longitudinal side bar of the canopy frame and providing thedownwardly facing bearing surface against which the rollers of therespective canopy roller unit bear, the channel section of said canopytrack being at the bottom thereof and spaced from the rollers of saidcanopy roller units in sufliciently close adjacency so that the retainerlip thereof extends upwardly in retaining relation to said rollers, theback web of said canopy track being disposed outwardly of the rollers ofsaid fixed roller unit, and the bracket of said fixed roller unitextending upwardly in a space defined between the retainer lip of saidcanopy track and the adjacent sides of said cover unit.

12. A sleeper attachment body as defined in claim 4, wherein said slidemeans further includes stationary 1ongitudinal tracks attached to therespective sides of said cover unit and canopy tracks each attachedinternally to a respective side of said canopy; and wherein saidantifriction roller units include, at each side of the sleeper body, aforward roller unit attached to a respective longitudinal frame bar ofthe canopy and in rolling engagement with a downwardly facing bearingsurface of a respective stationary track; and a rear roller unitattached to a respective side of said cover unit and in rollingengagement with an under bearing surface of a respective canopy track;and wherein said stationary tracks and said canopy tracks are both ofidentical C-form cross section, each including a vertical back web, aplain horizontal flange projecting from one margin of said web and asecond horizontal flange projecting from the other margin thereof, saidsecond marginal flange terminating in a mar ginal retainer lip extendingvertically from its outer margin, and defining with said secondhorizontal flange and said back web a roller receiving channel section,said stationary track being arranged with said plain horizontal flangeat the bottom and said channel section at the top thereof with said backweb secured to an external side surface of said cover unit and saidsecond horizontal flange providing said downwardly facing bearingsurface engaged by the rollers of said forward roller unit extendingupwardly into said channel section of the respective stationary track;and each of said canopy tracks being arranged with its said plainhorizontal flange at the top and secured to the underside of arespective longitudinal side bar of the canopy frame and providing thedownwardly facing bearing surface against which the rollers of therespective canopy roller unit bear, the channel section of said canopytrack being at the bottom thereof and spaced from the rollers of saidcanopy roller units in sufficiently close adjacency so that the retainerlip thereof extends upwardly in retaining relation to said rollers, theback web of said canopy track being disposed outwardly of the rollers ofsaid fixed roller unit, and the bracket of said fixed roller unitextending upwardly in a space defined between the retainer lip of saidcanopy track and the adjacent sides of said cover unit; said stationarytracks further including rearward extensions of L-section includingextensions of the bottom horizontal flanges of the respective track, towhich bottom flange extensions the rearward roller unit is mounted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,944,439 Larsen Jan. 23, I934 2,719,054 Jennings Sept. 27, 19552,853,338 Stanley Sept. 23, 1958 2,853,340 Hershberger Sept. 23, 19582,882,093 Schaffer Apr. 14, 1959 2,895,572 Brinck July 21, 1959 FOREIGNPATENTS 245,604 Italy Jan. 13, 1926

